"Three runes, one of which is a non-standard [Fireball Technique] rune...
Based on the common price of low-level Zero Rank magic tools at the Wizard Market stalls, it's worth at least a few dozen low-level magic stones."
Ronan quietly evaluated the Fireball Ring in hand; as for that other ring with double [Protection] runes on it, he had no clue about its value.
It's a high-end good, suitable for sale in specialized magic tool stores like Weiling Workshop.
"This guy just drank a potion, he might still have some on him..."
After retrieving the rings, Ronan didn't feel any psychological barrier towards looting the corpse, perhaps because the considerable loot overcame his fear of the body.
This time, he squatted down beside the corpse, hands searching all over it.
Soon enough, there was a gain—Ronan found a black pouch with exquisite patterns underneath the right side of the magic robe.
Quickly opening it, he found it scarcely filled.
Aside from a dozen low-level magic stones, there was one potion, and also a round, brass-colored badge.
Ronan was somewhat disappointed.
But that was normal; no wizard carried all their belongings on them all the time.
Picking up the potion and looking at it, Ronan, who hadn't even entered the field of Magic Potion, couldn't tell what was inside.
"I'll just go to a pharmacy later to compare and find out..."
Putting down the potion, he picked up the brass badge.
A small green owl pattern was imprinted on the surface of the badge.
It looked like the exclusive member badge of some organization or power.
Thinking of this, Ronan's heart suddenly tightened again.
An organization means there's a backing.
Now that the person was dead here, would someone come later to investigate?
What if they find him, the "assassin"?
Could accomplices already be on their way here?
Chasing, revenge, blood debts...
Scenes and plots he had seen in past life movies, news, and novels started swirling uncontrollably in his mind.
Ronan couldn't help but shiver lightly; the aftereffects of the killing resurged.
He dared not stay in this place any longer.
He hastily gathered all valuables, threw the badge and the pouch back on the corpse, and turned to leave, speeding away.
Originally, he had thought of going back to where the first corpse was to take another look.
Now he immediately discarded the idea, only wanting to escape as quickly as possible.
....
Worried about being located, Ronan dared not return to his treehouse for three days.
Wandering in the wilderness, enduring wind and dew, he almost stopped all daily activities except meditation.
...
Three days later.
Weary and covered in dust, Ronan returned to his hut.
Cautiously, he took out his key and pushed the door open, looking around.
Inside the dim and cramped hut, everything was nearly unchanged from when he had left.
The first thing was to check the random stuff box in the corner.
Upon seeing several [Clean] and [Shining] runes inscribed and his saved magic stones all still there, none missing,
Ronan finally exhaled deeply and flopped down on the chair.
In these three days, Ronan had also sorted out and understood the situation.
The wizard he killed was also an "assassin."
He chose a place near the depths of the forest in the wilderness to commit murder, and after Ronan witnessed the act, he was eager to silence him; it was clear he was engaged in unsavory deeds.
Such a person would act covertly; after death, two bodies left in the dense jungle full of beasts would attract carnivores with the scent of blood, and in no more than two hours, the scene would be "cleaned" thoroughly.
Apart from himself, no one in the world would know what exactly happened there that day.
His previous worries were indeed somewhat superfluous.
However.
Although that is what he thought, Ronan still lived like a startled bird for the next month.
```
It was as if he had returned to the state he was in when he had first transmigrated.
With the magic stones he had saved up in hand, he took a trip to the market during a spare moment and bought a bottle of low-level Concentration Potion. After drinking it, he successfully advanced to a Level 4 Wizard Apprentice, and his whole being gradually settled down.
....
"Splash!"
A figure burst forth from the calm surface of the lake.
It was a slim and trim youth.
Pale skin, lake-blue eyes, wet chestnut hair clinging to his shoulders... He had a kind of rugged and wild handsomeness.
Ronan grabbed a handful of his hair, shaking off a good amount of water droplets, then stepped onto the grassy shore of the lake.
Beneath the lush green walnut trees, Ronan sat down casually, letting the breeze dry the water stains on his body.
"More than a month without incidents... Most likely, it really is nothing to worry about now."
Ronan murmured softly to himself.
Just yesterday, he had sneakily slipped back to that place deep in the forest.
The body of the dead wizard had long since vanished, and the traces of the two battle sites were covered and buried by the newly grown wild grass.
"Even if there are magical methods to investigate, under such circumstances... it's probably going to be very difficult."
Ronan thought, then pulled out two rings from his waist – one black, one red.
These were the magic rings striped from that wizard's body, which Ronan had taken to playing with from time to time during this period.
"With my current spiritual power, it's a bit of a stretch to simultaneously activate the two [Protection] runes on the rings. To be able to do it with ease, without affecting the use of other techniques, I might need the strength of a Level 6 Wizard Apprentice..."
From this, Ronan deduced that the wizard's strength was at the level of a Level 6 Wizard Apprentice, or even Level 7.
To think that such a powerful person ended up dead by his hand, it felt like a stroke of incredible luck.
"Underestimating the enemy, poor condition, and a serious underestimation of my combat power... These led to his downfall and death."
Ronan internally reviewed the situation, quietly taking it as a prime example to remind himself from time to time.
He had also become quite familiar with the other ring, enchanted with the [Fireball Technique].
Indeed, the item was handy. With simple guidance from spiritual power, it could trigger a fireball of nearly the same power as a normal spell, but the release was much faster, incomparably so.
After one use, its cooldown period was roughly twenty seconds; he figured it could be used two or three times at most in a single battle.
Ronan understood the other two low-level runes on the rings as well, which were a type named [Acceleration], a non-universal rune effect that slightly increased the wizard's spell casting and chanting speed.
Very useful at the Low-Level Apprentice stage, but as one advances, it becomes less impressive.
Ronan dared not wear the two magic rings, but he always carried them with him, in case of emergency.
Carefully putting the rings back in his belt pouch, Ronan stood up and shook off his body before donning his robe.
Wearing it directly without an undergarment was quite comfortable, especially after a bath.
However, both of Ronan's robes were somewhat worn, with this one even having several holes. When running, the wind would whistle as it entered through them.
"I need to buy a new one..."
Ronan touched one of the holes in his robe, and after thinking for a moment, decided, "Might as well just get a Wizard Robe."
Ronan had a small savings by now.
He earned a decent number of magic stones from rune engraving over the past month. Combined with what he previously saved, and what he pilfered from the pockets of the deceased wizard, minus the cost of buying a bottle of low-level Concentration Potion, he still had over thirty low-level magic stones left.
A most basic Wizard Robe could be had for about a dozen low-level magic stones, and it would be even cheaper if it were second-hand.
Unfortunately, Ronan didn't have a lot of money. If he had ample funds, he would definitely consider buying a set of enchanted leather armor.
Over this month, his [Ascetic Body Refinement] proficiency had increased significantly, and his physique had improved quite a bit. If he could get enchanted leather armor, it would certainly bring out a lot of his physical advantages.
But with the [Protection] rings... it wasn't a pressing need.
Ronan walked toward the forest.
As he walked, he casually brought up his character panel.
[Name: Ronan Damien]
[Age: 16]
[Talent: No Attribute Affinity]
[Strength: Level 4 Wizard Apprentice (5%)]
[Skills: Basic Meditation Technique (Expert 2/800)
Energy Missile (Expert 531/800)
Charging Weapon (Mastery 14/400)
Rune Engraving — Clean (Proficiency 102/200), Shining (Entry Level 56/100)
Ascetic Body Refinement (Entry Level 87/100)]
```